The American Geographical Society Library (AGSL), one of the premier collections of its kind in North America, contains nearly 2 million items supporting instruction, research and outreach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and around the world.
Formerly the library and map collection of the American Geographical Society (AGS) of New York, it was donated to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries in 1978 following a nationwide selection process by the AGS of New York.
The collection was formed in the early 1850s to support research in and diffusion of geographical and statistical information and to maintain a collection of maps, charts and instruments. By 1870, this library was already recognized as the “largest and most valuable” of its type in the United States. Later, at the conclusion of World War I, the United States Government centered the preliminary work of its delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, President Wilson’s famous “Inquiry,” at the Society’s headquarters to utilize many of the Library’s unique resources. Since the transfer of ownership of the collection to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1978, the AGSL has thrived and the collections have expanded and presently comprise nearly two million items including maps, atlases, books, journals, pamphlets, photographs, slides, Landsat images, and digital spatial data.
AGSL Collection Development Policy
Gifts
The AGSL accepts collection donations, however, due to limited capacity and collection needs we have instituted the following rules guiding collection donations:
1. Prior to gifting a list of items must be provided. The list of items allows AGSL staff to determine if the gift is appropriate for our collection.
2. We will not accept gifts on a walk-in basis.
3. We are no longer accepting gifts of United States topographic maps.
4. We are no longer accepting gifts of road maps.
5. Gifts of recent publications (i.e., not rare) will be offered to the main library.
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